Carpenter, 37, acknowledged last Friday that he would continue to throw until it became clear there was no hope of soon returning to the Cardinals' rotation. Carpenter said if he reached such a point he would consider other options. Surgery was among them.

According to Strauss, rehab from the surgery is expected to take six months.

Last September, Carpenter signed a $21 million, two-year extension with the Cardinals but hasn't played in a game since his win over the Rangers in Game 7 of the 2011 World Series.